Latest news with #MoqtadaSadr
Leaders
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Leaders
Iraqi Cities Protest against Israel's War on Iran
Baghdad and other Iraqi cities witnessed wide protests on Friday from Moqtada Sadr's supporters against Israel's war against Iran, according to Arab News. Iraqi Protests Iraqi demonstrators gathered in the Sadr City district of Baghdad after Friday prayers and chanted 'No to Israel! No to America!' 'It is an unjust war… Israel has no right' to hit Iran, said protester Abu Hussein. Iraqi Cities Protest against Israel's War on Iran Meanwhile, approximately 2,000 people rallied in Iraq's southern city of Basra after the prayers. Cleric Qusai Assadi, 43, condemned Israel's use of Iraqi airspace to bomb Iran. 'It is a violation of Iraq's sovereignty,' he said, warning against 'a third world war against Islam.' Call for Not Targeting US Troops Baghdad asked Iran earlier this week to avoid targeting US interests in Iraq amid mounting tensions between Israel and Tehran, according to Al-Arabiya. Despite the fact that Baghdad is a close ally of Tehran, Iraq is also a strategic partner of the US and even has approximately 2,500 US troops on its soil as part of an anti-extremist coalition. Israel-Iran Conflict On June 13, Israel launched a wave of airstrikes on Iran under the name of Operation Rising Lion. The military campaign targeted Iran's nuclear facilities and killed top military commanders and nuclear scientists. As a response, Iran launched a retaliatory wave of missiles against Israel and targeted Tel Aviv. US Denies Involvement US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the United States was not involved in Israel's unilateral strikes on Iran, according to The New York Times. 'We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense,' Rubio said. He also warned Iran not to respond to Israeli strikes by targeting American bases in the region. Importantly, the US military maintains a large fleet of warplanes, naval vessels as well as thousands of troops stationed at its bases in the region, including in Qatar and Bahrain. 'Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel,' Rubio added. Related Topics: US Military Aircrafts Vanish from Qatar Base Amid Iran Tensions China Condemns Israel's 'War of Aggression' against Iran 'Nobody Knows': Trump on US Striking Iran Short link : Post Views: 8
Iraqi News
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Sadr supporters protest in Baghdad against Israel's war with Iran
Baghdad – Thousands of supporters of powerful Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr rallied Friday in Baghdad and other cities against Israel's war with Iran, AFP correspondents said. 'No to Israel! No to America!' chanted demonstrators gathered after Friday prayers in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, Moqtada Sadr's stronghold in the capital, holding umbrellas to shield themselves from Iraq's scorching summer sun. 'It is an unjust war… Israel has no right' to hit Iran, said protester Abu Hussein. 'Israel is not in it for the (Iranian) nuclear (program). What Israel and the Americans want is to dominate the Middle East,' added the 54-year-old taxi driver. He said he hoped Iran would come out of the war victorious, and that Iraq should support its neighbour 'with money, weapons and protests'. In Iraq's southern city of Basra, around 2,000 people demonstrated after the prayers, according to an AFP correspondent. Cleric Qusai al-Assadi, 43, denounced Israel's use of Iraqi airspace to bomb Iran. 'It is a violation of Iraq's sovereignty,' he said, warning against 'a third world war against Islam.' Echoing the views of Sadr, Assadi said that Iraq should not be dragged into the conflict. In a statement earlier this week, Sadr condemned 'the Zionist and American terrorism' and the 'aggression against neighbouring Iran, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen', referring to Israel's military operations in those countries. Sadr, who once led a militia fighting US-led forces after the 2003 invasion, retains a devoted following of millions among the country's majority community of Shiite Muslims, and wields great influence over Iraqi politics. He has previously criticised Tehran-backed Iraqi armed factions, who have threatened US interests in the region if the United States were to join Israel in its war against Iran. On Friday, Israel launched a surprise attack targeting Iran's military and nuclear sites and killing top commanders and scientists, saying it was acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, an ambition Tehran denies having. The assault has prompted Iran to retaliate with barrages of missiles aimed at Israel, with residential areas in both countries suffering. Iraq is both a significant ally of Iran and a strategic partner of Israel's key supporter, the United States, and has for years negotiated a delicate balancing act between the two foes. It has only recently regained a semblance of stability after decades of devastating conflicts and turmoil.
Arab News
a day ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Thousands protest in Iraq against the Iran-Israel war
BAGHDAD: Thousands of supporters of powerful Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr rallied Friday in Baghdad and other cities against Israel's war with Iran, AFP correspondents said. 'No to Israel! No to America!' chanted demonstrators gathered after Friday prayers in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, Moqtada Sadr's stronghold in the capital, holding umbrellas to shield themselves from Iraq's scorching summer sun. 'It is an unjust war... Israel has no right' to hit Iran, said protester Abu Hussein. 'Israel is not in it for the (Iranian) nuclear (program). What Israel and the Americans want is to dominate the Middle East,' added the 54-year-old taxi driver. He said he hoped Iran would come out of the war victorious, and that Iraq should support its neighbor 'with money, weapons and protests.' In Iraq's southern city of Basra, around 2,000 people demonstrated after the prayers, according to an AFP correspondent. Cleric Qusai Assadi, 43, denounced Israel's use of Iraqi airspace to bomb Iran. 'It is a violation of Iraq's sovereignty,' he said, warning against 'a third world war against Islam.' Echoing the views of Sadr, Assadi said that Iraq should not be dragged into the conflict. In a statement earlier this week, Sadr condemned 'the Zionist and American terrorism' and the 'aggression against neighboring Iran, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen,' referring to Israel's military operations in those countries. Sadr, who once led a militia fighting US-led forces after the 2003 invasion, retains a devoted following of millions among the country's majority community of Shiite Muslims, and wields great influence over Iraqi politics. He has previously criticized Tehran-backed Iraqi armed factions, who have threatened US interests in the region if the United States were to join Israel in its war against Iran. On Friday, Israel launched a surprise attack targeting Iran's military and nuclear sites and killing top commanders and scientists, saying it was acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, an ambition Tehran denies having. The assault has prompted Iran to retaliate with barrages of missiles aimed at Israel, with residential areas in both countries suffering. Iraq is both a significant ally of Iran and a strategic partner of Israel's key supporter, the United States, and has for years negotiated a delicate balancing act between the two foes. It has only recently regained a semblance of stability after decades of devastating conflicts and turmoil.
